Trial Outcomes & Findings for Laser Therapy for Treatment of Urogenital Symptoms in Women (NCT NCT03681678)

NCT ID: NCT03681678

Last Updated: 2025-12-23

Results Overview

PGI-I score is recorded 4 weeks after initial treatment completion. The PGI-I asks the patient to "check the box that best describes how your urinary and/or vaginal symptoms are now, compared with how you symptoms were before you began this study." There are 7 possible responses ranging from 1 to 7, where 1 is "Very Much Better", 2 is "Much Better, 3 is "A Little Bit Better", 4 is "No Change", 5 is "A Little Worse", 6 is "Much Worse", and 7 is "Very Much Worse". A score from 1 to 3 would indicate improvement.

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Target enrollment

100 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

4 weeks post-initial treatment

Results posted on

2025-12-23

Participant Flow

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
fCO2 Laser Therapy Group
Women treated with the fCO2 laser fCO2 Laser Therapy Group: Women enrolled in the study will receive three treatments with the fractional carbon dioxide (fCO2) laser. The interval between treatments is approximately six weeks. Intra-vaginal laser treatments will be delivered at 8 points at each level of the vaginal wall.
Overall Study
STARTED
100
Overall Study
COMPLETED
80
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
20

Reasons for withdrawal

Reasons for withdrawal
Measure
fCO2 Laser Therapy Group
Women treated with the fCO2 laser fCO2 Laser Therapy Group: Women enrolled in the study will receive three treatments with the fractional carbon dioxide (fCO2) laser. The interval between treatments is approximately six weeks. Intra-vaginal laser treatments will be delivered at 8 points at each level of the vaginal wall.
Overall Study
Lost to Follow-up
20

Baseline Characteristics

Laser Therapy for Treatment of Urogenital Symptoms in Women

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
fCO2 Laser Therapy Group
n=80 Participants
Women treated with the fCO2 laser fCO2 Laser Therapy Group: Women enrolled in the study will receive three treatments with the fractional carbon dioxide (fCO2) laser. The interval between treatments is approximately six weeks. Intra-vaginal laser treatments will be delivered at 8 points at each level of the vaginal wall.
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
0 Participants
n=68 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
66 Participants
n=68 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
14 Participants
n=68 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
80 Participants
n=68 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
0 Participants
n=68 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
2 Participants
n=68 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
78 Participants
n=68 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
n=68 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants
n=68 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
1 Participants
n=68 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants
n=68 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
4 Participants
n=68 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
75 Participants
n=68 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
0 Participants
n=68 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
n=68 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
80 participants
n=68 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: 4 weeks post-initial treatment

PGI-I score is recorded 4 weeks after initial treatment completion. The PGI-I asks the patient to "check the box that best describes how your urinary and/or vaginal symptoms are now, compared with how you symptoms were before you began this study." There are 7 possible responses ranging from 1 to 7, where 1 is "Very Much Better", 2 is "Much Better, 3 is "A Little Bit Better", 4 is "No Change", 5 is "A Little Worse", 6 is "Much Worse", and 7 is "Very Much Worse". A score from 1 to 3 would indicate improvement.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
fCO2 Laser Therapy Group
n=80 Participants
Women treated with the fCO2 laser fCO2 Laser Therapy Group: Women enrolled in the study will receive three treatments with the fractional carbon dioxide (fCO2) laser. The interval between treatments is approximately six weeks. Intra-vaginal laser treatments will be delivered at 8 points at each level of the vaginal wall.
Patient Global Impression of Improvement (PGI-I) Score at 4 Weeks After Initial Treatment
2.66 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 0.88

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 6 months and 36 months post-initial treatment

The average change in patients' PGI-I scores from baseline to 6 months and 36 months post-treatment. The PGI-I asks the patient to "check the one number that best describes how your urinary tract condition is now compared with how it was before your treatment." There are 7 possible responses ranging from 1 to 7, where 1 is "Very Much Better" and 7 is "Very Much Worse". A lower score would represent improvement and a favorable outcome.

Outcome measures

Outcome data not reported

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 6 months and 36 months post-initial treatment

The Vaginal Health Inventory Score (VHIS) is an assessment tool, used by providers, to determine if vaginal atrophy is present. Providers perform a vaginal exam and give a score of 1-5 (abnormal to normal, respectively) on each of the following vaginal parameters: elasticity, secretion/fluid volume, vaginal pH, integrity of the epithelium, and lubrication/moisture of the vaginal wall. A VHIS score less than 15 is indicative of vaginal atrophy.

Outcome measures

Outcome data not reported

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 6 months and 36 months post-initial treatment

Patients will complete the QUID, which consists of 6 questions. Responses to the questions indicate the frequency of urinary incontinence. Scores are: 0 (none of the time), 1 (rarely), 2 (once in awhile), 3 (often), 4 (most of the time), or 5 (all of the time). Responses to items 1, 2, and 3 are summed for the Stress Urinary Incontinence Score. Responses to items 4, 5, and 6 are summed for the Urge Incontinence Score.

Outcome measures

Outcome data not reported

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 6 months and 36 months post-initial treatment

The OAB-q SF consists of two scales assessing symptom bother and health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) in patients with OAB. Each question is rated on a 6 point scale with 1 = Not at all and 6 = A very great deal.

Outcome measures

Outcome data not reported

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 6 months and 36 months post-initial treatment

A 3-day voiding diary will be completed by the patient and evaluated to describe urinary frequency and incontinence episodes.

Outcome measures

Outcome data not reported

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 6 months and 36 months post-initial treatment

The FSFI consists of 6 subscales related to sexual desire (2 Qs scale 1 worst - 5 best), arousal (4Qs 0 worst - 5 best), lubrication (4Qs 0 worst-5 best), orgasm (3Qs 0 worst - 5 best), satisfaction ( 3Qs 0 worst - 5 best), and pain (3 Qs 0 worst - 5 best). Higher scores indicate higher sexual functioning. Scores range from 2-36. A score of 26.55 has been clinically selected as the cut-off for sexual dysfunction. Scores below this value indicate sexual dysfunction.

Outcome measures

Outcome data not reported

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 6 months and 36 months post-initial treatment

A clean catch urine specimen will be collected at each visit. A positive urine dipstick test will have the presence of leukocytes and nitrites accompanied by symptoms (dysuria, bladder pain, and/or urinary frequency).

Outcome measures

Outcome data not reported

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 6 months and 36 months post-initial treatment

The GAD-7 is a self-reported questionnaire for screening and measuring severity of generalized anxiety disorder. There are 7 questions total, each answer is scored on a scale from 0 = not at all to 3 = nearly every day. Scores greater than or equal to 10 indicate moderate anxiety and further assessment is recommended.

Outcome measures

Outcome data not reported

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 6 months and 36 months post-initial treatment

The PHQ-8 is an eight item questionnaire that is a valid diagnostic and severity measure for depressive disorders. Each question is scored from 0 = not at all to 3 = nearly every day. A score of 10 or greater is considered major depression and a score of 20 or more as severe major depression.

Outcome measures

Outcome data not reported

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 6 months and 36 months post-initial treatment

The Incontinence Quality of Life Questionnaire (I-QOL) is a validated tool to assess the impact of urinary incontinence problems. The I-QOL has 22 incontinent-specific quality of life items all having the following five-point ordinal response scale: 1= Extremely, 2= Quite a Bit, 3= Moderately, 4= A Little, and 5= Not at All. Total I-QOL is a combined score of all items. All 22 items are summed to calculate a total I-QOL score, ranging from 22 to 110, with a high score indicating a better quality of life. The 22 items are broken down into 3 subscales: Avoidance and Limiting Behaviors Score (8 of the 22 items), Psychosocial Impacts Score (9 of the 22 items), and Social Embarrassment Score (5 of the 22 items). Scores are summed based on the same 5-point scale. 1= Extremely, 2= Quite a Bit, 3= Moderately, 4= A Little, and 5= Not at All. A high score indicates a better quality of life.

Outcome measures

Outcome data not reported

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 6 months and 36 months post-initial treatment

Presence or absence of lactobacillus will be collected by the physician via a vaginal swab and assessed under the microscope.

Outcome measures

Outcome data not reported

Adverse Events

fCO2 Laser Therapy Group

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 64 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Serious adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Other adverse events

Other adverse events
Measure
fCO2 Laser Therapy Group
n=80 participants at risk
Women treated with the fCO2 laser fCO2 Laser Therapy Group: Women enrolled in the study will receive three treatments with the fractional carbon dioxide (fCO2) laser. The interval between treatments is approximately six weeks. Intra-vaginal laser treatments will be delivered at 8 points at each level of the vaginal wall.
Infections and infestations
Urinary Tract Infection
10.0%
8/80 • Number of events 11 • 3 years
Reproductive system and breast disorders
vaginal pain
1.2%
1/80 • Number of events 1 • 3 years
Infections and infestations
Vaginal yeast infection
5.0%
4/80 • Number of events 4 • 3 years
Reproductive system and breast disorders
Vaginal Burning
2.5%
2/80 • Number of events 3 • 3 years
Renal and urinary disorders
Urethral mass
1.2%
1/80 • Number of events 1 • 3 years
Renal and urinary disorders
Bladder pressure
1.2%
1/80 • Number of events 1 • 3 years
Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders
Flank pain
1.2%
1/80 • Number of events 1 • 3 years
Renal and urinary disorders
Dysuria
1.2%
1/80 • Number of events 1 • 3 years
Renal and urinary disorders
Increase urinary urgency
5.0%
4/80 • Number of events 4 • 3 years
Reproductive system and breast disorders
Vaginal infection - not specified
1.2%
1/80 • Number of events 1 • 3 years
Reproductive system and breast disorders
ovarian cysts
1.2%
1/80 • Number of events 1 • 3 years
Renal and urinary disorders
positive urine dipstick
1.2%
1/80 • Number of events 2 • 3 years
Infections and infestations
Bacterial vaginosis
6.2%
5/80 • Number of events 6 • 3 years
Injury, poisoning and procedural complications
Pain during treatment
2.5%
2/80 • Number of events 5 • 3 years
Renal and urinary disorders
Suspected urinary calculus
1.2%
1/80 • Number of events 1 • 3 years
Infections and infestations
Suspected bacterial vaginosis
1.2%
1/80 • Number of events 1 • 3 years
Injury, poisoning and procedural complications
Discomfort with probe insertion
5.0%
4/80 • Number of events 4 • 3 years
Reproductive system and breast disorders
Vaginal burning during treatment
6.2%
5/80 • Number of events 5 • 3 years
Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders
Flare of pelvic floor muscle
1.2%
1/80 • Number of events 3 • 3 years
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders
Rash - Allergic reaction to Cipro
1.2%
1/80 • Number of events 1 • 3 years
Reproductive system and breast disorders
Worsening dyspareunia
1.2%
1/80 • Number of events 1 • 3 years
Reproductive system and breast disorders
Vaginal itching
3.8%
3/80 • Number of events 4 • 3 years
Reproductive system and breast disorders
Vaginal irritation
1.2%
1/80 • Number of events 1 • 3 years
Nervous system disorders
Numbness to lower extremity and buttock
1.2%
1/80 • Number of events 2 • 3 years
Reproductive system and breast disorders
Exacerbation of vaginal atrophy
1.2%
1/80 • Number of events 1 • 3 years
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders
Left labial itching and redness
1.2%
1/80 • Number of events 1 • 3 years
Injury, poisoning and procedural complications
Trauma to introitus during treatment
1.2%
1/80 • Number of events 1 • 3 years
Renal and urinary disorders
Proteinuria
1.2%
1/80 • Number of events 1 • 3 years
Nervous system disorders
Pudendal nerve pain
1.2%
1/80 • Number of events 1 • 3 years
Reproductive system and breast disorders
Vaginal bleeding
8.8%
7/80 • Number of events 8 • 3 years

Additional Information

Jennifer Giordano

William Beaumont Hospital

Phone: 248-551-3517

Results disclosure agreements

  • Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
  • Publication restrictions are in place